I am intruiged by Laimbeer. It was hard to argue for him last year -- you don't let a rookie coach a contender, right? Well, now that we're not much of a contender anymore, this would have been a good year to give him a go.

Anyways, I don't normally think you need to have been a great player to get respect from your players -- neither Riley, Daly or Brown, 3 of the all-time greats, had significant NBA careers. You just have to know the game and know how to handle people (great that our guy knows neither!). But in Laimbeer's case and on this team, I think playing experience could have helped with the bunch we had last year -- it's hard to tune out a guy who won two in this very building and whose number is up there on the rafters. Laimbeer seems to have potential, and Daly was always very high on Laimbeer's ability to see the game as a whole.

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I agree that Laimbeer, because he was a Piston and some might argue THE Piston, is a special case. I think longtime Pistons fans would like to see Laimbeer given a shot. I would... as I am newly starstruck (see the video "This is the Moment" starring Lambs). Laimbeer is like the Piston Basketball Jesus (sorry Bill Simmons but nuts to Larry Bird) to me, mainly for HOW he played.

Note: Riley must have done something right as a player, because he shows up in my NBA Greatest Games on NBATV fairly often. And I'm presently reading the pf.com migrating book "Loose Balls" and Larry Brown was a solid point guard in the ABA who was an assist MONSTER. They both made a mark anyway.

Cowens. Porter. How will they be as assistants under Laimb...? Oops.:( I mean under Flip Saunders? Between them, do they have the spine and cujones Flip lacks? Maybe among the three, a whole NBA coach can be built. :fingerscr

Exactly. Laimbeer could be a special case or it could be wishful thinking. I dunno. That's why this year would have been a good year to find out.

I think it's wishful thinking to assume that the assisstants' strengths will bolster the head coach's weaknesses. Rather, they could exacerbate things if the players think the HC is a lame duck. Joe must know that. Maybe he's challenging Flip to sink or swin. Fine w/ me, however. I'll do anything legal to get Flip away from our players.

I like this move. I am of the belief that the one common thread the "best" NBA coaches have (post Daly era) is that (unlike Flip) they were former players. The addition of Cowens (Boston's version of Laimbeer, in spirit), and Porter make our AC staff strong again. Plus we got a couple of potential "heir apparents" looking over Flip's shoulder. Flip is a smart guy so I expect him to fully utilize their experiences.

Having said that, I would prefer Bill Lambier (as an assistant) as well. This move tells me that Joe either could not work out a deal with Bill (probably unlikely) or Bill don't wanna be Flip's assistant (probably more likely). I gotta believe Joe ain't forgot about Bill, as they seem to have a good relationship. Ditto for Mr. D.

Maybe Bill needs to come off that high horse and pay some dues for a season or two. What's to lose?

Agreed -- Skiles is one to watch. Perhaps he burns himself out there. Our guys would probably respond to a coach who wants to play D again. It's strange -- they never looked like they were having more fun on the court than when they were locking down offenses. Yet they still need a coach to force them to do it. Humans are weird.

I'd have to say George Karl's a candidate too if the Nugs go sour. He's great for 2/3 seasons before he gets tuned out.

It's strange -- they never looked like they were having more fun on the court than when they were locking down offenses. Yet they still need a coach to force them to do it. Humans are weird.

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"our first version of the matrix was a human paradise. but human beings kept rejecting it. some believed that we lacked the programming language to create paradise for humans. but i believe that humans define their reality through suffering." (more or less)

I've seen Cowens get a couple of hallway interviews, too. Perhaps they are taking turns...

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I'm eagerly anticipating Igor's turn. I say if we have to listen to the same platitudes and buzzwords every time we might as well get it in an accent every once in a while to make the same old, same old sound new and refeshing.

I'm eagerly anticipating Igor's turn. I say if we have to listen to the same platitudes and buzzwords every time we might as well get it in an accent every once in a while to make the same old, same old sound new and refeshing.

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Yea, maybe Mike Abdenour and Arnie Kander should do a few interviews...

I'm eagerly anticipating Igor's turn. I say if we have to listen to the same platitudes and buzzwords every time we might as well get it in an accent every once in a while to make the same old, same old sound new and refeshing.

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That's a great idea. I'm not sure if there has ever been an international hallway coach.